Best 9MM , 500 bucks to spend

I've got a Steyr M9 and a Px4 Storm. I like them both but if I had to bet my life one one of them it would be the Px4. You can change the grip to make it smaller, it comes with the medium backstrap installed but it has a small and large one in the box too. The Steyr is a little picky on what it likes to shoot, but I think if I messed with it a bit I could get it to be pretty reliable. The Steyr shoots well though. It takes a bit to get used to those trapazoid sights.

 

how do i get the girls i like/date to love guns too?!?!

 

You don't you can only get them to tolerate the fact that you have them.

 

if you find yourself in a home invasion scenario, the best weapon is a shotgun. With that in mind, in the average reported instance of firearm defense the defender first makes eye contact with his attacker at 11 feet and averages about 1.5 shots. Some people get 3-4 and some get none. in the end, being capable at what you have is more important than what you have.

You are spot on about stress shooting. A lot of shooters practice on the range and can group shots at 15 feet all day long. There's a course in town that has a Rogers course at a range which emphasizes real world scenarios involving obstacles, reaction time and do-not-shoot targets. I'm also super excited about an upcoming under-stress shooting course which involves running, jumping, climbing, tire flipping and oh yeah, some shooting.

 

What ever you buy, try it out first if you can.
Glock is a fine weapon but it will not fit every body's hands. I don't like them in my hands (for me!)
How about the Ruger SR series, American made, under $500.00
The SR9c is a great 10+1 gun the can use a 17 round mag.
If it's for your wife you owe it to her to let her handle one.

There are many good firearms. Try a Ruger SR9c and see for your self.


Yuma Taco,

 

I met her in Aug. 1971 40 efn years ago, She grew up hunting got a 410 for her 10th birthday. She was a better shot then her dad at age 13. We went to shoot trap in the winter of 71 and she out shot me that was the end of the other girl I was dating on the spot. She was and still is a keeper. Good luck on finding one for yourself................................................... Jim

 

I have multiple mp 9mm's a fullsize and compact.

I also have a small size gf who says their trigger pulls are heavy, therefore probably gonna go with a glock 19 for her first pistol.

 

Good info on this thread. Might have to get me a Glock 19

 

I know I'm not to quote myself have your GF try the glock 26 mine has small hands and the 19 did not fell right but she loves the 26. Fed x man came with a nice box yesterday so we are going to the wood's this weekend.

 

My wife falls under this description. She shot a number of my handguns, and felt the most comfortable with my S&W 66, using CorBon .38 JHP's. She didn't feel like she could handle the percieved complexity of a semi-auto, and it was her decision to make. She's pretty good w/ it, but doesn't shoot nearly as often as I'd like her to.

As far as 9mm's go, I have a S&W 5906 w/ adj. sights, and really I like it, but it's too heavy for most as a CCW. It has been 100% reliable for me, w/ over 2k rounds through it and absolutely no problems of any kind, regardless of ammo used, including an extensive array of my handloads.

 

I have two definite favories in the inexpensive 9mm arena:

I really love the ergonomics of the CZ line, the P-01 in particular. CZs have a great reputation for durability. The P-01 has some really cool specs if you look into it. Alloy frame, so it is almost as light as a polymer, and it is NATO approved, the only such hand gun available to the public with a NATO number (Beretta 92 also NATO approved but not available as tested by NATO). Triggers on these can be a bit rough.

I also have a Springfield XD. Similar to a Glock in many ways, I would choose between the two based on ergonomics and aesthetics, though neither is a particularly attractive hand gun in my opinion. The XD won for me in the end.

I also tracked down a Sig Sauer used that was an excellent gun for the money.

I saw a post for the Baby Eagle a few pages back. This is an awesome weapon. It has very good ergonomics, fit and finish are better that any other firearm I own, I love the looks of it, but....it is heavy as hell. It really is only appropriate for range time, in the safe, or on the hip of a very large man in a very dangerous place.

Regardless of what you choose, have fun shopping, that is one of the best parts.

 

this got my vote

 

XD9 FTW

 

I have a glock 17 and love it (now that i'm used to the long DA only trigger - i was carrying a kimber pro raptor ii before)

I never understood why the 19's are so popular. The 17 has a longer barell which makes it intrinsically more accurate, and the barell length does not affect concealability.

whichever you choose, though, let me recommend Talon grips. phenomenal. also, crossbreed super tuck holsters.

here's my pocket contents dumped on the nightstand after a day...

 

Glock 19. THE perfect 9mm. Especially for the $$

 

Glock. end of story.

 

literally!

 

Go with a ruger sr9. Its what I carry daily. Very comfortable gun... glocks are overpriced to me and they just seem cheaply made... but that's just me

 

Kabooms are ammo related. Back when the .40 first came out people where shooting lead reloads in a barrel not designed for it. Thus increasing chamber pressure leading to a Kaboom. ALL guns can have a Kaboom and 80% of the time it is ammo related. The other 20% being metallurgy failure. Google "Glock Kaboom" and you'll find all you ever wanted on it.

 

And nothing to do with unsupported chambers in G22/23, among others?

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/glock-kb-faq.html